Fruit-basket



(No Model.)

0. G. LEWIS.

FRUIT BASKET.

No. 412,105. Patented Oct. 1, 1889.

Cfiarles UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES C. LEWIS, OF WVESTFIELD, NEW YORK.

FRU lT- BASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 412,105, dated October 1, 1889.

Application filed July 25, 1889. Serial No; 318,615. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.- 7

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States of America, rcsiding at W'estfield, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruits Baskets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to baskets for packing and shipping fruit; and it consists in an improved device for fastening the cover, whereby a simple arrangement is devised that will not only firmly and securely hold the top in position, but prevent the sides of the basket from spreading under the Weight and pressure sustained during transportation.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, the figure shows in perspective a View of a fruit-basket having my improvement applied thereto, and representing the top in a partly-lifted position to permit inspection of the contents.

The body A of the basket may be of any suitable construction, and has the customary arched handle a.

As shown, the top 13 consists of a single piece of material, and rests upon the upper edge of the basketbetween the sides of the handle a. This top B is secured in position 3 by means of a fastening device, which, as

shown, consists of a wire I), which is passed around the sides of the handle, and has its extremities interlocked, as shown at c, after which its ends are embedded in the top B. It will be noticed that the interlocking and embedding is located considerably at one side of the longitudinal center of the top, so that it will not exert a central pressure upon the top and the contents of the basket, thus preventing the crushing of the top layers of fruit in the latter. Furthermore, such location enables the opposite side of the top to be partly raised, so that the fruit may be inspected and its condition ascertainedwithout requiring the disconnection of the fastening. The outer face of each vertical portion of the handle is provided with a horizontal groove or channel (6, with which the loop portions of the wire fastening engages to hold it positively in position and prevent it from sliding upward upon said vertical portions by reason of the lifting-pressure exerted by the top. When one of the sides of the top is to be raised, as stated, the loop at that side is disengaged temporarily from its channel, and after the desired inspection the top is restored to its first position and the loop sprung into engagement with its channel.

In use it will be found that the fastening is not only simple and inexpensive, but that it can be quickly adjusted. to connect the top to the basket, and as quickly disconnected to detach the top therefrom. During transportation and shipment the wire fastening Will serve to prevent the sides of the basket from spreading by reason of the weight of the haskets resting thereupon.

I claim-- 1. The combination, with the body having the handle, of the top and a transverse fastening-section looped around the handle and connected to the top at one side of its longi' tudinal center, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the basket having the handle, of the top and a transverse fastening consisting of a wire looped around the handle, having its ends interlocked and embedded in the top at one side of its longi tudinal center, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES C. LEWIS. Witnesses:

S. W. lVIASON, M. A. DRIGGS. 

